AD/F2000/13 Engine Spherical Bearing (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Dassault Aviation Falcon 2000 Series Aeroplanes

AD/F2000/13 Engine Spherical Bearing 5/2006

Applicability:

FALCON 2000 aircraft equipped with the CFE 738 engines with the following serial numbers and on which Service Bulletin (SB) F2000-299 has not been incorporated:

P105436, P105445, P105446, P105448, P105453, P105503, P105539, P105540, P105548.

Requirement:

1.    Check for the presence of the spherical bearing in accordance with SB F2000-299 original issue or later DGAC approved revision.

2.    If the spherical bearing is found missing, immediately remove the engine for repair.  This removal also includes the front link system assembly.

Note:  DGAC AD 2004-128 EASA approval reference No. 2004-8057 dated
27 July 2004 refers.

Compliance:

1.    Before 880 landings for engines with less than 850 landings at the effective date of this AD; or

Within 1 month after the effective date of this AD and without exceeding 1010 landings for engines between 850 and 1000 landings at the effective date of this AD; or

Within 10 landings for engines after the effective date of this AD with more than 1000 landings at the effective date of this AD.

2.    Before further flight.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 11 May 2006.

Background:

One spherical bearing insuring a link between the engine front area and the fuselage has been found missing on an in-service aircraft.  Investigation has limited the number of suspected engines to a list of 9 serial numbers.

A missing spherical bearing will jeopardize the engine mount integrity and thus the aircraft safety.

The aim of this Airworthiness Directive (AD) is to mandate the check of the spherical bearing presence through an endoscopic inspection.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

17 March 2006